Page 18 of The Penalty Shot (Totally Pucked 5)

Her gaze darts down to her feet and she groans. “This is embarrassing. I forgot I even had these on. Uh…do you want to…come in?”

Even though we’ve seen each several times lately and even after sleeping on her couch the other night, she still is a flustered, nervous mess, and it’s so goddamnrefreshing.I love that I have this effect on her.

She’scute... Nothing like any woman I’ve ever met. Certainly not the ones who hang out at the arena after the game, or try to slide in my DMs simply because I play hockey. Those women want me because I’m a hockey player. None of them know who I really am. The things I really like.

There comes a certain expectation when you play for one of the best hockey teams in the country. Women put you on a pedestal, where you don’t belong, simply because you’re a professional hockey player. I can’t say that I haven’t indulged; I’m a bachelor in his late twenties, but I can say the bunnies aren’t my thing. Hudson’s the one who makes it his life goal to fuck his entire fan club. While relationships generally aren’t my thing, I prefer actual conversation over just a warm hole to fuck.

Auden swings the door open farther, and when she does, I realize she has no bra under her thin camisole. Her nipples seem to harden under my gaze, and she shuffles away as I follow behind her into the apartment.

“Did management get the locks changed?”

She nods. “Yeah, they did. I…I just feel so relieved that it's done, and his stuff is gone. So, thank you again. I just want to put all this behind me.”

“Good. I just want you and Alex safe.”

When she sits down on the couch, folding her legs beneath her and picks up the half-empty wine glass, I realize that she must have started way before I got there. I can hear it in the relaxed tone of her voice. I take a seat on the other side of the couch and face her.

Her eyes flit from my neck, down to the tattoos along my arms, then back to my face, her cheeks reddening when she realizes I caught her. I smirk.

"How many, uh, tattoos do you have?”

“Too many to count.” I laugh, holding my arm out and rotating it slightly to show the ink. “I really love art, in all forms. Some of these are my own drawings, and some are my tattoo artist’s. I’ve got my sleeves, my chest, a couple on my neck, one on my side, a few on my back and then a few random ones on my legs.”

Auden’s eyes are wide as she takes another sip of her wine. “I’ve always wanted a tattoo, but my parents would’ve killed me, and then I was just too afraid.”

“I almost crave the buzz of a needle now. It’s…therapeutic in a way.”

“I’ll take your word for it. Maybe one day, I’ll be more brave.”

“I think you're very brave, Auden, look at how you handled last night. Bravery comes in all forms. There’s things I’m afraid of that you might not blink an eye at. Everyone has their own fears.”

Her finger absentmindedly traces around the rim of her glass, and she laughs quietly. “I can’t exactly see you being afraid of anything. What is it?”

I shrug, my eyes holding hers. “You first.”

Not laying all my cards face up on the table just yet. I want to know her so fucking bad, but I know in my gut that I have to handle Auden with care. Take things at her pace, not mine.

Her throat bobs as she gulps. “Um, I think I’ve had way too much wine to be spilling all my darkest secrets to you.” Leaning forward, she pulls her knees up to her chest and sits back against the arm of the couch, facing me. I try to keep my eyes from caressing her thighs as her shorts ride up, but I’m failing.

She’s flawless. Effortlessly so.

“Doesn’t have to be a dark one, Killer.” Something passes between us, something thick and heavy hanging in the air.

Auden takes a sip then clears her throat. “I really hate feeling like I could fail Alex. It’s my biggest fear. Not being enough, and somehow failing him the way my parents failed me.”

“I think that’s a lot of parents' fears. Failing their child. It’s a normal fear to have, I would assume. I’m not a parent, but I can imagine when I do have children that I’d worry I would somehow fuck it up. What I do know is that you shouldn’t feel like you’re failing him. He’s a good kid, Auden, one of the best ones I know, and you’re a good mom.”

“I know he’s a great kid. I just know that these next few weeks…they’re going to probably be rough. Ugh, I’m sorry. I just…I’m not trying to unload all of this on you.” She averts her eyes as if she’s embarrassed. “I’m sure you’re probably second-guessing carrying my groceries and changing my tire.”

Fuck that. Bumping into her in that elevator is the best thing to happen to me in a long-ass time.

I scoot closer before I respond, watching as her breath quickens. “No. I’m exactly where I want to be, Auden.”

“Thank you. You know, you're honestly nothing like I expected. You’re like a gentle giant.”

I scoff. “I guess there are worse things to be called than gentle.”

Her dainty laugh echoes quietly around the living room as she shakes her head. “It’s the tattoos, they make you a little…intimidating, but then now that I know you, you’re not so scary.”

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